How To Really Block Time-Wasting Websites

Finding yourself unproductive because of distracting sites? Block them. No, seriously: block them. If you’ve got work to get done, and you can’t focus because the Internet is too fascinating, make it impossible for your own self to access the sites that suck away your time.

You might realize your information diet is terrible. You might find yourself wondering where your time has gone at the end of every day. Odds are that certain sites – Facebook, Reddit, YouTube…the list goes on – are stealing time from you without you even noticing. If you can’t seem to kick your addiction to these sites yourself there are ways to block them entirely, allowing you in theory to get stuff done.

The ultimate way to avoid distractions, however, is self-control. The tools I outline below can make it a little easier, blocking sites that would otherwise distract you and at the very least reminding you why it is you need to focus. If you already have self-control, great: you don’t need any of those tips. If you lack it, however, and can’t seem to develop it, start at Tier 1 and work your way down until you get results.

The problem with solutions like this, if you lack self-control, is that they’re too easy to bypass. All you need to do is open another browser – or fire up Incognito mode – and you’ve got full access to all of your distracting sites again. If all you need is a gentle reminder to get back to work right before you fall this is great, but some people need to go further.

Mac users should check out SelfControl, which blocks certain sites completely for a set amount of time.

Of course, solutions like these also aren’t perfect. You could simply walk away from your computer and pick up your tablet, bypassing the block again. If that sounds like you, move on to the next tier.

Tier 3: Router-Based Solutions

Still distracted? At least you admit that you’ve got a problem. There are two main ways you can block distracting sites using your router. Let’s go over them.

Once you’ve set everything up simply log into OpenDNS, head to the filtering page and add the sites you want to block. From now on, no one using your network will be able access these sites.

Now get to work.

b) Configure Your Router

Like the idea, but don’t want to sign up for an account or use OpenDNS? With most routers you can block specific sites yourself, without the need for OpenDNS or any service like it. Check your router’s documentation to see if this is possible; in most cases it will be under a section called “Access Restrictions”. This will vary depending on who makes your router, so check your router’s documentation (or just Google it’s model number).

If you’ve installed DD-WRT on your router – and you probably should – you can block specific sites using the Access Restrictions menu. Just head to “Filtering Services/URLs/Keyword” and add the offending sites to a blacklist. Sites will be blocked instantly for every device on your network, but you can also configure it to block during certain times or…

Tier 4: Unplug Your Freaking Router

Is all of this not enough? There’s always the nuclear option: total disconnection. Unplug your router from the web entirely and get to work. It’s crude, sure, but it works.

Even this, unfortunately, will only work if you want it to: it’s always possible to plug your router back in or simply pick up your smart phone to access your distractions.

Discipline

Ultimately none of these strategies will work if you lack the willpower to avoid distracting sites. You’ll be able to find a workaround for any system you set up for yourself, so unless you get someone else to set up a system and deny yourself the password, it will always be possible for you to get to your beloved distractions.

But setting up blocks like these put up barriers, giving you just enough time to remind yourself why it is you need to focus. And sometimes that’s all you need. Some of us need barriers than others, which is why I’ve outlined four tiers. Use the one that works for you.

How do you avoid distractions? Let everyone know in the comments below, or just link to extremely distracting sites. Every comment is emailed to me, so you could potentially derail my productivity for months.

Arnab Pari

justinpot

Zhong Jiang

Here what I would recommend, go outside and do your assignments there. NO COMPUTERS!

justinpot

March 18, 2013

I don’t understand what you’re saying…how can you do work without computers…

:)

Zhong Jiang

March 18, 2013

I’m sure you could just use your smartphones or tablet as a replacement for those gigantic machines you have to carry it with a bag. My own preference is instead of staying at home working, outside is a more comfortable enivronment. But on the other hand, if you work doesn’t involve using a digital device, don’t bring it.

Stephen

Clive Richards

March 18, 2013

It is of course relatively easy to do this if you have a job which doesn’t require you to be constantly using the internet – often now companies relay information to clients through twitter feeds and if not that though email or RSS feeds. Email is for me a preferred means of communication over almost any other – in that it doesn’t take 3 days for written correspondence and (b)provides a record and an accountability for the conversations which might otherwise be later forgotten or denied. The internet is also the medium that keeps me in touch with work at weekends and in the evening often making it that I can respond to people in more timely and expedient way. I think the biggest concern is the way it eats into family time – though I must admit I am better informed about my families activity by going online than I was before the internet arrived. Life has changed and to argue just in terms of wasting time is to not recognise that change – people are now better informed, participate in issues more and in many cases save time as well. Before if I wanted to buy something I would traipse around shops all day looking for the best deal – 20 minutes on the web.
I travelled more, drove more an used public transport more than ever I did before. If I have a cold I stay home to avoid sharing it and yet put in a full days work – not all the changes are bad

Douglas Mutay

k

March 22, 2013

Opendns is good but smart users are to get around even Opendns…all they have to do is change the dns settings on their machines. Set up an old machine with Ipcop or Ipfire, then inside in the iptables section and block all port 53 requests to other than Opendns. The side effect of this kind of fire wall is that it “can” be more secure. Security is also suggestive by who you talk to!!!